“We must obey God rather than men.” This declaration, which we find in today’s first reading taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles (5: 27 – 33), has never been more relevant than it is today. Peter and the other Apostles conquered human fear. To the high priest, president of the tribunal of the Sanhedrin, a completely new Peter after the Resurrection, courageously proclaims, also on behalf of the other Apostles, the fundamental principle of the freedom of faith and the coherence of life of Christians. We must obey God, even at the cost of appearing unpopular in the face of the “current mentality” of the world.
Unfortunately, today many Christians, either out of human respect, or to avoid running the risk of seeing themselves despised and marginalized, prefer to adapt to the surrounding world and, take on the color of the environment in which they live.
Obeying God means, first of all, knowing how to make courageous choices that could be costly, not only on big occasions but also in the small gestures of everyday life. Today in our world, more than just like in the days of the Apostles, needs true witnesses, who know how to announce the Gospel with a coherent testimony of life in conformity with the Gospel, even when it implies going against the current mentality of the new era in certain aspects of life.
Prayer:
Lord, make me a humble and courageous witness to your Gospel, even when this requires overcoming my shyness and fear, which lead me to hide my clear Christian identity.
Thank you, Fr. John Bosco for the inspiring reflection. God bless you.